UniBody Dual-Lens Mount for a Spherical Camera

ABSTRACT

A spherical camera includes two oppositely-oriented lenses rigidly secured by a unibody dual-lens mount. The unibody dual-lens mount includes two lens barrel that are laterally offset from each other. Each lens barrel secures a lens and has a top, a midsection and a bottom along its axial length, where the midsection is located between the top and the bottom. A first base portion extends radially outward from the bottom of a first lens barrel to join the midsection of a second lens barrel. A second base portion extends radially outward from a bottom of the second lens barrel to join a midsection of the first lens barrel. The base portions may be approximately perpendicular to central axes of the lens barrels. Additionally, the first lens barrel can be approximately parallel to the second lens barrel, and the first base portion can be approximately parallel to the second base portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/134,567, filed on Mar. 18, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Application No.62/267,864, filed on Dec. 15, 2015, which are incorporated by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a camera, and more specifically, to a lensmount in a spherical camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a spherical content capture system, a spherical camera capturesimages or video in a 360 degree field of view along a horizontal axisand 180 degree field of view along the vertical axis, thus capturing theentire environment around the camera system in every direction.Generally, such cameras utilize multiple camera lenses oriented indifferent directions and stich the images captured by the multiplecamera lenses in post-processing using a stitching algorithm. Whenapplying the stitching algorithm, it is preferable for the fields ofview of the multiple camera lenses to overlap so that no portions of theresultant spherical image are missing. For best performance and mostefficient application of the stitching algorithm, it is furthermorepreferable that the amount of overlap is predictable and consistentbetween content captured from different spherical cameras.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a camera system capable of capturing sphericalcontent, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a field of view of a camera system capable ofcapturing spherical content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of a unibody dual-lens mount,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of a unibody dual-lens mount,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4a illustrates a perspective view of a dual-lens assembly,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4b illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dual-lens assembly,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a securing structure forsecuring a circuit board to a unibody dual lens mount, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a lens image circle projected onto a rectangularimage sensor, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description relate to preferredembodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that fromthe following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures andmethods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viablealternatives that may be employed without departing from the principlesof what is claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted thatwherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used inthe figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figuresdepict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following description that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles described herein.

Additionally, where terms like “substantially” or “approximately” areused herein, they refer to being within a predefined toleranceunderstood by those of skill in the art to meet the requirements for theintended purpose. In different cases, this could be, for example, withina 5% tolerance, a 10% tolerance, etc. Thus, in on embodiment, terms suchas approximately (or substantially) parallel or approximately (orsubstantially) perpendicular mean that the elements are within apredefined tolerance of true parallel or true perpendicularrespectively.

Example Spherical Capture Camera System

A spherical camera will capture in every direction (or substantiallyevery direction with the exception of some relatively small blind spots)in the surrounding environment (e.g., 360 degrees in the horizontalplane and 180 degrees in the vertical plane). In order to capturespherical content, a spherical camera has at least two lenses thatcapture overlapping images that can be combined to form a sphericalimage using a stitching algorithm. In order to minimize the size andcost of the spherical camera, it is preferable to use the minimum numberof lenses required to capture suitable spherical content.

FIG. 1 illustrates a spherical camera 100, according to one embodiment.The spherical camera 100 comprises a camera body 110 having two cameralenses 410 structured on a front and back surfaces of the camera body110, various indicators on the front and/or back surface of the camerabody (such as LEDs, displays, and the like), various input mechanisms(such as buttons, switches, and touch-screen mechanisms), andelectronics (e.g., imaging electronics, power electronics, etc.)internal to the camera body 110 for capturing images via the cameralenses 410 and/or performing other functions. The two lenses 410 areoriented in opposite directions and couple with two images sensorsmounted on circuit boards 430. Other electrical camera components (e.g.,an image processor, camera SoC (system-on-chip), etc.) may also beincluded on a circuit board 120 within the camera body 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view and a field of view 200 of aspherical camera system 100, according to one embodiment. A first lens410 a of the spherical capture camera system 100 has field of view 200 awith boundary 210 a, in front of which the first image sensor 415 acaptures a first hyper-hemispherical image plane from light entering thefirst lens 410 a. A second lens 410 b of the spherical capture systemhas field of view 200 b with boundary 210 b, in front of which thesecond image sensor 415 b captures a second hyper-hemispherical imageplane from light entering the second lens 410 b. Areas that are out ofthe field of view 200 of both lenses 410 are considered blind spots 220because no content is being captured from those areas. It is desirableto minimize such blind spots 220 in order to capture as much contentfrom the environment surrounding the spherical capture camera system 100as possible. Outside of overlap points 230, content captured by eachlens 410 overlaps. The overlapping region can be correlated inpost-processing in order to align the captured fields of view 200 andstitch them together to form a cohesive image.

As can be understood from FIG. 2, any small change in alignment (e.g.,position, tilt, etc.) between the lens 410 or their respective imagesensors 415 changes the relative positions of their respective fields ofview 200, and the locations of the stitch points 230. This mayundesirably increase the size of the blind spot 220 on one side of thecamera 100. Furthermore, the stitching algorithm becomes significantlymore complex if the locations of the stitch line 230 cannot beaccurately known or well-estimated from the camera structure. Therefore,the camera 100 will ideally maintain the location and orientation of thelenses 410 and their respective image sensors 415 within very tighttolerances to ensure that the desired fields of view are captured andthat the stitching algorithm can accurately and efficiently stitch theimages together. For example, in one embodiment, optical axes throughthe lenses 410 are maintained substantially antiparallel to each other(e.g., within a predefined tolerance such as 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, etc.), andthe image sensors 415 are maintained substantially perpendicular (e.g.,within a predefined tolerance such as 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, etc.) to theoptical axes through their respective lenses 410.

As seen in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the lenses 410 are laterallyoffset from each other and each off-center from a central axis of thecamera. As compared to a camera with back-to-back lenses (e.g., lensesaligned along the same axis), the laterally offset lenses enables thecamera 100 to be built with substantially reduced thickness while stillaccommodating the lengths of the lens barrels securing the lenses 410.For example, in one embodiment, the overall thickness of the camera 100can be close to the length of a single lens barrel as opposed to twicethe lens barrel as would be needed in a back-to-back configuration.Furthermore, in one embodiment, to achieve best overlap in the fields ofview 200 of the lenses 410, the lenses 410 are positioned as closetogether laterally as will be allowable by the lens structure.

Example Unibody Dual-Lens Mount

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate perspective and cross-sectional viewsrespectively of a unibody dual-lens mount 300 that is enclosed withinthe camera system 100, according to one embodiment. The unibodydual-lens mount 300 rigidly secures the two lenses 410 to maintain atight tolerance between their relative positions. Though the unibodydual-lens mount 300 is discussed herein in the context of severalcomponents for the purpose of explanation, in practice it may be formedfrom a single uniform material (e.g., a rigid plastic). In particular,for the purpose of explanation, the unibody dual-lens mount is describedin terms of two lens barrels 310 that each secure a lens 410 and twobase portions 330 that join the lens barrels 310 together, all of whichform portions of a single unibody construction without requiringadhesives or other fastening structures.

In one embodiment, a first lens barrel 310 a has a hollow cylindricalshape and is configured to secure the first lens 410 a. The first lensbarrel 310 a has a top 312 a, midsection 314 a and bottom 316 a alongits axial length. The midsection 314 a is located between the top 312 aand the bottom 316 a of the first lens barrel 310 a. The midsection 314a may be located at a midpoint halfway between the top 312 a and thebottom 316 a of the first lens barrel 310 a. Alternatively, themidsection 314 a can be located closer to the top 312 a than the bottom316 a of the first lens barrel 310 a, or closer to the bottom 316 a thanthe top 312 a of the first lens barrel 310 a. Additionally, the firstlens barrel 310 a has a central axis 318 a that is parallel to its axiallength. The first lens barrel 310 a also has a diameter, which may beconstant throughout the length of the cylinder. In some embodiments, thediameter has a step-wise increase near the top 312 a of the first lensbarrel 310 a. The step-wise increase in diameter may accommodate areciprocal piece 320 inside the first lens barrel 310 a to help securethe first lens 410 a.

Similarly, a second lens barrel 310 b also has a hollow cylindricalshape and is configured to secure the second lens 410 b. The second lensbarrel 310 b has a top 312 b, midsection 314 b and bottom 316 b alongits axial length. The midsection 314 b is located between the top 312 band the bottom 316 b of the second lens barrel 310 b. The midsection 314b may be located at a midpoint halfway between the top 312 b and thebottom 316 b of the second lens barrel 310 b. Alternatively, themidsection 314 b can be located closer to the top 312 b than the bottom316 b of the second lens barrel 310 b, or closer to the bottom 316 athan the top 312 b of the second lens barrel 310 b. Additionally, thesecond lens barrel 310 b has a central axis 318 b that is parallel toits axial length. The second lens barrel 310 b also has a diameter,which may be constant throughout the length of the cylinder. In someembodiments, the diameter has a step-wise increase similar to thatdescribed with respect to the first lens barrel 310 a. The step-wiseincrease in diameter may accommodate the reciprocal piece 320 inside thesecond lens barrel 310 b to help secure the second lens 410 b.

The central axis 318 a of the first lens barrel 310 a can beapproximately antiparallel to the central axis 318 b of the second lensbarrel 310 b, such that the lens barrels 310 are approximately alignedin parallel but oriented in opposite directions. The lens barrels 310can also be offset laterally, perpendicular to the central axes 318. Thelateral offset may be such that the lens barrels 310 are structured nextto each other with only a small separation between them. In someembodiments, the lateral distance between an outer cylindrical surfaceof the first lens barrel 310 a and an outer cylindrical surface of thesecond lens barrel 310 b is significantly smaller than the diameter ofthe first lens barrel 310 a or the second lens barrel 310 b.Additionally, the first lens barrel 310 a and the second lens barrel 310b can have approximately the same diameter and axial length.

The lens barrels 310 are joined by a first base portion 330 a and asecond base portion 330 b. The first base portion 330 a has a topsurface 332 a and a bottom surface 334 a. The first base portion 330 aextends radially outward from the bottom 316 a of the first lens barrel310 a and joins with the midsection 314 b of the second lens barrel 310b. Similarly, the second base portion 330 b has a top surface 332 b anda bottom surface 334 b. The second base portion 330 b extends radiallyoutward from the bottom 316 b of the second lens barrel 310 b and joinswith the midsection 314 a of the first lens barrel 310 a. The first baseportion 330 a can extend approximately perpendicularly relative to thecentral axis 318 a of the first lens barrel 310 a and join the secondlens barrel 310 b approximately perpendicular to its central axis 318 b.The second base portion 330 b can also extend approximatelyperpendicularly relative to the central axis 318 b of the second lensbarrel and join the first lens barrel 310 a approximately perpendicularto its central axis 318 a.

The first base portion 330 a and the second base portion 330 b can besubstantially rectangular and have substantially the same thickness.This thickness can be significantly smaller than the axial lengths ofthe lens barrels 310. The thickness of the base portions 330 may vary tocreate several ridges that act to increase the rigidity of the mount 300and reduce the relative tilts of the lens barrels 310 under stress.Furthermore, in one embodiment, the structures of the base portions 330each include an approximately rectangular cavity for housing a circuitboard on which the image sensor 415 is mounted. This structure,maintains the image sensors 415 in an orientation substantiallyperpendicular to the central axes 318 of the lens barrels 310.Additionally, the base portions 330 can be approximately parallel to andvertically offset from each other in the orientation shown. The lensbarrels 310 and base portions 330 are structured such that the top 312 aof the first lens barrel 310 a extends past the bottom surface 334 b ofthe second base potion 330 b, and the top 312 b of the second lensbarrel 310 b extends past the bottom surface 334 a of the first baseportion 330 a. In some embodiments, the base portions 330 also includestructures 336 designed to receive a connector or securing mechanismthat attaches another component to the unibody dual-lens mount 300.

Example Dual-Lens Assembly

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate perspective and cross-sectional views of adual-lens assembly 400 including the unibody dual-lens mount 300,according to one embodiment. In addition to the unibody dual-lens mount300, the dual-lens assembly 400 includes two lens mounts 420, two imagesensors attached to circuit boards 430 and securing structures 440.Additionally, the dual-lens assembly may secure multiple internal lensesother than outward-facing lenses 410 within the lens barrels 310.

The first lens 410 a is secured to the first lens barrel 310 a with afirst lens mount 420 a. The first lens mount 420 a can include a firstlens frame 422 a that encases the first lens 410 a. Similarly, thesecond lens 410 b is secured to the second lens barrel 310 b with asecond lens mount 420 b, which can also include a second lens frame 422b that encases the second lens 410 b. The lenses 410 may be secured suchthat they are approximately parallel to each other and oriented inopposite directions.

A first circuit board 430 a houses a first image sensor 415 a and has atop surface 432 a and a bottom surface 434 a. A second circuit board 430b houses a second image sensor 415 b and has a top surface 434 a and abottom surface 434 b. The first circuit board 430 a and second circuitboard 430 b are secured to the unibody dual-lens mount 300 with securingstructures 440. The securing structures 440 couple with the reciprocalstructures 336 on the unibody dual-lens mount 300. The circuit boards430 can be secured to the unibody dual-lens mount 300 such that thecircuit boards 430 are approximately parallel to each other and orientedin opposite directions (i.e., with the image sensors 415 capturing lightfrom opposite directions).

In some embodiments, the securing structures 440 comprise bolts, screws,or other fasteners that couple with an end piece 442 on the top surface332 of the base portion 330. In particular, a securing structure 440used to secure a circuit board 430 to a base portion 330 may be made upof three fasteners. Accordingly, the securing structures 404 of thedual-lens assembly may include six fasteners—three per circuit board 430and base portion 330. Multiple fasteners of the securing structure 440may couple with a single end piece 442. When secured by securingstructures 440, the top surface 432 of the circuit board 430 may comeinto contact with the bottom surface 334 of the base portion 330.Alternatively, the top surface 432 of the circuit board 430 may beseparated from the bottom surface 334 of the base portion 330 by anotherportion of the securing structures 440.

In one embodiment, the top 312 a of the first lens barrel 310 a extendspast the bottom surface 434 b of the second circuit board 430 b and thetop 312 b of the second lens barrel 310 b extends past the bottomsurface 434 a of the first circuit board 430 a. In another embodiment,an exposed surface of the first lens 410 a extends past the past thebottom surface 434 b of the second circuit board 430 b and an exposedsurface of the second lens 410 b extends past the bottom surface 434 aof the first circuit board 430 a. Additionally, the first lens 410 a maybe approximately parallel to the first circuit board 430 a and thesecond lens 410 b may be approximately parallel to the second circuitboard 430 b.

FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of a securingstructure 440 of the lens assembly 400. In some embodiments, thefasteners of the securing structure 440 do not come into direct contactwith the bottom surface 434 of the circuit board 430. Instead, there maybe a piece of compressible foam 500 between the bottom surface 434 ofthe circuit board 430 and the bolt of the securing structure 440. In oneembodiment, a securing structure 440 that includes three fasteners hascompressible foam 500 between one of the fasteners and the bottomsurface 434 of the circuit board 430, while the other fasteners contactthe circuit board 430 directly.

The compressible foam 500 beneficially prevents or reduces twisting ortilt of the circuit board 430 (which may subsequently cause misalignmentof the image sensors 415 and/or lenses 41-) resulting from tightening ofthe securing structure 440. Particularly, varying the compression causedby tightness of the securing structure 440 is absorbed by thecompressible foam 500, thus allowing for a greater variance in the forceapplied by the fastener without causing optical misalignment.

In one embodiment, the image sensors are aligned within the cavity ofthe base portions 330 such that the optical axis is laterally offsetfrom the center of the image sensor. FIG. 6 illustrates image circles620 projected onto an image sensor 415 in a spherical camera 100. Theimage circles 620 are projections of the cones of light transmitted bythe respective lenses 410. In a conventional camera that capturesrectangular images, the standard lens image circle 610 encompasses thewhole photosite 600 of the image sensor 415. Because the photosite 600is rectangular, the resulting image is rectangular. In contrast, tocapture a full hemispheric image, the image circles 620 of the lenses410 in a spherical camera 100 are instead completely located within thephotosites 600. Here, the image circles 620 are aligned off-center fromthe center of the photosites 600 to allow the distance D between theoptical axes 450 of the lenses 410 to be smaller than if the imagecircles 620 were centered. This beneficially reduces the area of theblind spots 220 of the spherical camera 100 and thus increases thequality of the spherical image.

Additional Configuration Considerations

Throughout this specification, some embodiments have used the expression“coupled” along with its derivatives. The term “coupled” as used hereinis not necessarily limited to two or more elements being in directphysical or electrical contact. Rather, the term “coupled” may alsoencompass two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other, or arestructured to provide a thermal conduction path between the elements.

Likewise, as used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof,are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus.

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the invention. Thisdescription should be read to include one or at least one and thesingular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meantotherwise.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for thedescribed embodiments as disclosed from the principles herein. Thus,while particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein.Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the method and apparatus disclosed herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.

1. A dual-lens mount comprising: a first lens barrel having a hollowcylindrical shape, the first lens barrel having a top, a bottom and amidsection, the midsection of the first lens barrel being between thetop of the first lens barrel and the bottom of the first lens barrel; asecond lens barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape, the second lensbarrel having a top, a bottom and a midsection, the midsection of thesecond lens barrel being between the top of the second lens barrel andthe bottom of the second lens barrel; a first base portion extending inan outward radial direction from the bottom of the first lens barrel andjoined with the midsection of the second lens barrel; a second baseportion extending in an outward radial direction from the bottom of thesecond lens barrel and joined with the midsection of the first lensbarrel; wherein the top of the first lens barrel extends past a bottomsurface of the second base portion, and the top of the second lensbarrel extends past a bottom surface of the first base portion.
 2. Thedual-lens mount of claim 1, wherein the first lens barrel, the secondlens barrel, the first base portion and the second base portion comprisea unibody construction having a common material.
 3. The dual-lens mountof claim 1, wherein the midsection of the first lens barrel includes amidpoint halfway between the top and the bottom of the first lensbarrel, and the midsection of the second lens barrel includes a midpointhalfway between the top and the bottom of the second lens barrel.
 4. Thedual-lens mount of claim 1, wherein the midsection of the first lensbarrel is closer to the top of the first lens barrel than the bottom ofthe first lens barrel, and the midsection of the second lens barrel iscloser to the top of the second lens barrel than the bottom of thesecond lens barrel.
 5. The dual-lens mount of claim 1, wherein adiameter of the first lens barrel is approximately equal to a diameterof the second lens barrel.
 6. The dual-lens mount of claim 1, wherein anaxial length of the first lens barrel is approximately equal to an axiallength of the second lens barrel.
 7. The dual-lens mount of claim 1,wherein a thickness of the first barrel connector is approximately equalto a thickness of the second barrel connector.
 8. The dual-lens mount ofclaim 1, wherein the first base portion and the second portion areapproximately parallel to each other.
 9. The dual-lens mount of claim 1,wherein a central axis of the first lens barrel and a central axis ofthe second lens barrel are approximately parallel to each other.
 10. Thedual-lens mount of claim 1, wherein the first base portion isapproximately perpendicular to central axes of the first and second lensbarrels, and the second base portion is approximately perpendicular tocentral axes of the first and second lens barrels.
 11. The dual-lensmount of claim 1, wherein thicknesses of the first base portion and thesecond base portion are less than axial lengths of the first lens barreland the second lens barrel.
 12. The dual-lens mount of claim 1, whereina distance between an outer cylindrical surface of the first lens barreland an outer cylindrical surface of the second lens barrel is smallerthan diameters of the first and second lens barrels.
 13. The dual-lensmount of claim 1, wherein the first barrel connector and the secondbarrel connector are substantially rectangular.
 14. A dual-lens assemblycomprising: a first lens barrel having a hollow cylindrical shape, thefirst lens barrel having a top, a bottom and a midsection, themidsection of the first lens barrel being between the top of the firstlens barrel and the bottom of the first lens barrel; a second lensbarrel having a hollow cylindrical shape, the second lens barrel havinga top, a bottom and a midsection, the midsection of the second lensbarrel being between the top of the second lens barrel and the bottom ofthe second lens barrel; a first base portion extending in an outwardradial direction from the bottom of the first lens barrel and joinedwith the midsection of the second lens barrel; a second base portionextending in an outward radial direction from the bottom of the secondlens barrel and joined with the midsection of the first lens barrel; afirst lens secured to the first lens barrel; and a second lens securedto the second lens barrel; wherein the top of the first lens extendspast the bottom surface of the second base portion, and the second lensextends past the bottom surface of the first base portion.
 15. Thedual-lens assembly of claim 14, wherein the top of the first lens barrelextends past the bottom surface of the second barrel connector, and thetop of the second lens barrel extends past the bottom surface of thefirst barrel connector.
 16. The dual-lens assembly of claim 14, furthercomprising: a first lens mount protruding from the first lens barrel,the first lens mount securing the first lens to the first lens barrel;and a second lens mount protruding from the second lens barrel, thesecond lens mount securing the second lens to the second lens barrel.17. The dual-lens assembly of claim 16, wherein the first lens mountencases a bottom surface and an edge of the first lens, and the secondlens mount encases a bottom surface and an edge of the second lens. 18.The dual-lens assembly of claim 14, further comprising: a first circuitboard; a first securing structure securing a top surface of the firstcircuit board to the bottom surface of the first base portion; a secondcircuit board; and a second securing structure securing a top surface ofthe second circuit board to the bottom surface of the second baseportion; wherein the first lens extends past a bottom surface of thesecond circuit board, and the second lens extends past a bottom surfaceof the first circuit board.
 19. The dual-lens assembly of claim 18,wherein the top of the first lens barrel extends past the bottom surfaceof the second circuit board, and the top of the second lens barrelextends past the bottom surface of the first circuit board.
 20. Thedual-lens assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second securingstructures each comprise one or more fasteners, the dual-lens assemblyfurther comprising: a compressible foam element positioned between atleast one of the one or more fasteners and the first or second circuitboard.
 21. The dual-lens assembly of claim 20, wherein the first andsecond securing structures each comprise three fasteners, one of thethree fasteners having a piece of compressible foam position between thefastener and the first or second circuit board.
 22. The dual-lensassembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second circuit boards areapproximately parallel to each other.
 23. The dual-lens assembly ofclaim 18, wherein a first image circle of the first lens is off-centerrelative to a first photosite of a first image sensor mounted on thefirst circuit board;
 24. The dual-lens assembly of claim 23, wherein asecond image circle of the second lens is off-center relative to asecond photosite of a second image sensor mounted on the second circuitboard in a direction towards the first lens.
 25. A camera comprising: acamera body; a first lens protruding from the camera body; a second lensprotruding from the camera body; a unibody dual-lens mount containedwithin the camera body, the unibody dual-lens mount having a first lensbarrel and a second lens barrel having respective longitudinal axesoriented substantially parallel to each other, the first lens secured tothe first lens barrel and the second lens secured to the second lensbarrel such that the first lens and second lens are oriented in oppositedirections; a first image sensor oriented substantially perpendicular tothe first lens barrel, the first image sensor to capture light passingthrough the first lens; and a second image sensor oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the second lens barrel, the second image sensor tocapture light passing through the second lens.
 26. The camera of claim23, wherein: the first lens barrel has a hollow cylindrical shape, andwherein the first lens barrel has a top, a bottom and a midsection, themidsection of the first lens barrel being between the top of the firstlens barrel and the bottom of the first lens barrel; the second lensbarrel has a hollow cylindrical shape, and wherein the second lensbarrel has a top, a bottom and a midsection, the midsection of thesecond lens barrel being between the top of the second lens barrel andthe bottom of the second lens barrel; and wherein the unibody dual-lensmount further comprises: a first base portion extending in an outwardradial direction from the bottom of the first lens barrel and joinedwith the midsection of the second lens barrel; and a second base portionextending in an outward radial direction from the bottom of the secondlens barrel and joined with the midsection of the first lens barrel; andwherein the first lens extends past a bottom surface of the second baseportion, and the second lens extends past a bottom surface of the firstbase portion.
 27. The camera of claim 25, wherein a first image circleof the first lens is off-center relative to a first photosite of a firstimage sensor mounted on the first circuit board.
 28. The camera of claim27, wherein a second image circle of the second lens is off-centerrelative to a second photosite of a second image sensor mounted on thesecond circuit board in a direction towards the first lens.